System of interselective distribution of secondary armature-currents



v. w. KLIESRATH. SYSTEM OFINIERSEL'ECIIVE DISTRIBUTION OF SECONDARY ARMATURE CUBRENIS.

I APPLICATION FILED DEC.30. I918.- I 1,369,342. Patented F61). 22, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- V. W. KLIESRATH. SYSTEM OFINTERSELECTIVE DIST RIBUTION OF SECONDARY ARMATURE CURRENTS.

APPLICATION FILED Dec. 30. 191

Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

2 $HEETSSHEET 2-- T m w e Mm m m \NQ g E W v m l- WW g V t h 0W x2 3 m u irEo STATESI'PATENT OFFICE,

7 mm w. KLIESLRATIH, or EAST onAnennEw JERSEY, Ass enon'ro THE sums MAGNE'IO COMPANY, OF EAST ORANGE, NEWYJERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SYSTEM (m INTERS ELECT IVE DISTRIBUTION T 0 all whom it may concern." I Be it known that I,;V1oron lV. Kmns- BATH, a citizen of the, United States, residing at East Orange, in' the county of Essex and State'of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Systems of Interselective Distribution of Secondary Armature currents; and-I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description'of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. I

My invention consists in thenovel fea tures hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawing which illustrates diagrammatically two embodi ments of the invention selected by 'me for purposes of illustration, and the said'invention is fully disclosed inthe followmg description and claims; r

The distribution of high tension-magneto current to the ignition plugs of internal combustionengin'es having a largenumber of cylinders has necessitated changesin the ordinary 'distributer, especially where more than eight cylinders areused in the engine, as the construction of magneto generators imposes certain limitationsas to the speed at which the armature, periodic interrupter, and the rotary part of the distributer "may be practically and successfully operated, and also as to the size of the stationary portion of the distributer, inwhi'ch the stationaryconducting members, which are connected to the spark plug, are located. It has therefore been proposed to arrange thestationary conducting members of the distributer: in tvo circular series instead of one and to provide two rotary distributing. members, each coacting with one of said circular se ries of conducting members and operating alternately,the rotating conducting member of one section of thedistributer being 7 in an intermediate position between two 'sta tionary conductingmembers when the rorating conducting member; of the other section of the distributer is in operative rela; tion with conducting member of its circular series. It has been found,v however, that in a system arranged in the manner described wherein both of the rotating distributing members are in connection with the secondary coil, difiiculty is experienced Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb, 22 1921,

- Application filed December 30, 1918. Serial. No. 268,791.

by arcing between the rotating conducting members and stationary conducting members when not in the predetermined o eraring or sncoimnnr nnmuunn-cunnnu'rs.

difficulty and to insure that the current from the secondary windingshall be distributed by the rotaryconducting members of the distributer only as each comes into a predetermined operative relation with a stationary conducting member of its appropriate circular series without, however, increasing to any material extent the speed of the-armature shaft of the magneto,

The object of my invention is to provide extremely simple and efiicient means 7 for such interselection whereby it may be accomplished through the agency of a slip ring on the armature shaft permanently connected to one end of the secondarywindnate carbonization of their insulated sur-.

faces due to the rubbing contact of carbon of similar brushes, and to employ in connection therewith two carbon brushes so disposeclthat only one of the same can be in contact with a metallic segment of the slip ring at a time, and to connect each of said "ing of the armature, the other end of the V brushes independently to one of the rotary conducting members of the distributer,

which rotary members are insulated from.

each "other. The relative rotation of the 'armatureslip; ring and of the rotar members of the distributer is such that w enever one of said rotary conducting members of the distributer is in operative relation with one of the circular series of stationary conducting-members with which it cooperates,

the brush connected with such rotary mem ber of the distributer will be in contact with a'metal seg f Slip Ting; and there fore the" other brush which is connected to "the other rotary distributing member will beupon a nonconducting portion ofvthe ring; so that 'nocurrent'can pass to the other rotary distributing member.

an accurate inter-selective action, and precludes the possibility of arcing at eitherof the rotary distributing members or the dis .tribution of current therefrom when'not in proper operative relation withthe selected stationary conducting member, and the proper firing. of the engine cylinders is therefore accurately secured. It will be understood that the magneto armature and the periodicinterrupter therefor will beso constructed as to produce a number of sparks per revolution of the armaturee ualto the number of segments of theslip ring, multiplied 'by the number of brushes engaging the slip ring, I

. Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 represents diagrammaticall an embodiment; of my invention which I; ave

-- successfully employed in connectionwith a twelve cylinder internal combustion engine,

selected by me for purposes of illustration, Fig. 2 represents a cross-section of the slip ring indicated.diagrammatically in Fig; 1,

- the p sitionof the brushes being indicated inv dotted lines, 1 Fig; 3 representsa similar diagrammatic representation as Fig. 1 of an, embodiment of my inventionwhich I have successfully {L employed in connection with an internal combustion engine haying slxteen cylinders.

Fig.4 represents a cross section of the slip ring indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 3, the position of the brushes being indicated in dotted lines. a Referringto F igs.1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, 1 represents the primary windingof a high tension magneto armature having oneend connected toground as at 2,

' and the other end connected to one of the separable contacts 3 of a periodic interruptcr, the movable contact of which is indicated at 4, and which is connected to ground, as at 5. 6 represents the usual condenser which is preferably employed in connection with the magneto armature. 7 represents thesecondary winding, one end of which is 5 permanently grounded, preferably by connecting itwith the primary winding, as

1 showninthe diagram. The other end of the secondary; winding is connected by wire 8 or other suitable connection with metallic j segments of myimproved slip ring, .which is carried by and rotates with the magneto armature, said segments being indicated at 9+9; In the formation of this slip ring I prefer to provide a metallic circular body 10, asshown in Fig. 1, having the segments This insures 9 formed integral therewith, and provided with over-hanging extremities or shoulders '11'-11, as'shown, the said ring being embedded in abody vor sp0ol12-con1posed of material 15-15 forming two segmental insulating surfaces concentric with the outer faces of'the segments 9 9,.but being of considerably greater extent in a direction around the rin .I refer to form the body of the spool 0% hard its great insulating value per unit of thickness, and to make the insulatingfbrush enrubber on account of gaging segments of a rubber basejcombined with fore1gn-material,iwhich will produce the highest-possible insulating value, while affording a wearing surface whichawill sub:-

stantially equal the wearresistance of-the metal segments 9-9, and which will elimi-- nate carbonization of'the insulated surfaces due to the rubbing Contact of a carbon or' other brush of similar composition. 16 and 17 represent twobrushes of carbon or other suitable material, whichmay be ofanyus'ual or' preferred construction; These 1 brushes are supported stationarily in such. position that only one of them can be'in contact with a segment 9 of the slipv ring. at a'time, and preferably. in such position, that asshown in Fig. 1, when'one of said brushes, is in contact witha metallic segment'9, as thebrush 16, the other brush, as'brush 17-, will bein portions 15, as therein shown. Inthe em bodiment of my invention arranged .for a twelve cylinder engine,'-as shown in Fig.1, I prefer to employ-a slip ring having two conducting segments 9 disposed opposite to each other,'or at 180 from each other, and to arrange the brushes 1617 at right angles to each other, or at-anangle of 90 from each other. It will be seen that'as the slip ring rotates with the armature, each segment will make contactwith the brushes 1617 alternately during a revolution, thus producing four contacts, it being understood that the armaturein this case and its periodic interrupter are so constructed as to the center of one ofthe insulating segmental I obtain-four sparks per revolution of the armature.

' The distributer comprises two circular series of stationaryconducting devices indicated at 18-19 respectively, which may be insulated in any usual mamier, each of said conductors being'connected in any usual or well known manner with one of the spark plugs of the engine. The spark plugs are indicated at 25 and 26. The rotary member of the distributer which may be of any desired character is indicated at 30 and is provided with a rotary conducting member for each of the circular series of stationary conducting members, the said rotary conducting members being insulated from each other and being indicated in the diagram at 21 and 22, one of the rotary conducting members, as 21, being connected, as by wire 23, with the brush 16, the other rotary conducting member, as 22, being connected, as by wire 24, with the brush 17. The distributer may be operatively connected with the magneto itself or may be separated therefrom and otherwise driven from the engine, but in any case it is obvious that it must be operated in timed relation with the slip ring 10 so that as each of the brushes 16 and 17 alternately engages one of the segments 9 of the slip ring, the rotary conducting member of the distributer connected with such brush will be in operative relation to one of the stationary conducting members of the distributer, thus making the ratio of rotation one for the distributer to three for the magneto armature shaft, where ignition is furnished to one half cylinder engine.

The method of distribution which I prefer to employ is that known as the jump spark method of distribution, in which a circular series of radial pins of non-oxidizable or practically non-oxidizable material are employed in connection with a rotating conducting element also of nonoxidizable or practically non-oxidizable material, which rotates without actually contacting, a clearance of approximately .012 to .017 being provided. This form is preferable to those employing a rubbing contact in that it eliminates entirely troubles due to leakage from one distributer segment to another, due to the wearing of the carbon brush and the depositing of a carbon surface between the segments of the distributer.

In order that the rotary conducting members of the distributer shall be brought alternately into operative relation with one of its circular series of stationary conducting members, it isnecessary to oifset either one of the circularseries of stationary contacts,

or its corresponding rotary conducting member, It is found to be more convenient to offset one of the rotary conducting members from each other, and where each sec tion of the distributer is provided with these stationary conducting members, as herein indicated, distributed uniformly around its circumference and separated therefore a distance of 60 from each other, the rotary conducting members of the distributer will be offset 30. I prefer to place the rotary conducting members 21-22 on opposite sides of the axis of rotation, and to offset them 80 from a diametrically opposite position, as shown inFig. 1, so that the angle between the two rotary conducting members, 011 one side, will be 150, and on the other side 210, thus affording an offset of 30 from 180.

In the operation of the magneto, as will be clearly apparent in Fig. 1, in which the brush 16 is shown in contact with one of the segments 9 of the slip ring, the high tension secondary current will pass through the connection 23 to the rotary conducting member 21 of the distributer, passing thence to the stationary contact with which it is in operative relation and thence to the spark plug connected therewith at which time the rotary conducting member 22 is in position midway between the two stationary conducting members of the other section of the distributer, and at which time the brush 1'7 connected therewith is upon the insulated portion 15 of the slip ring, so that no current can pass to the rotary conducting mem ber 22. When the segment 9 is in contact with the brush 17, current will pass through the connection 24; to the rotary conducting member 22, at which time it will be inoperative relation with one of the stationary conducting members of its circular series, and passing thence to said stationary con ducting member, will be conducted to the spark plug connected therewith, at which time the rotary conducting member 21 will be in a position midway between two of its circular series of stationary conducting members, and its brush 16 will then be in contact with an insulated portion 15 of the slip ring.

Referring now to Figs, 3 and 4 which illustrate an embodiment of my invention which I have found especially desirable for use with engines having sixteen cylinders, 101 represents the primary winding, one end of which is connected to ground, as at 102, and the other end of which is connected to ground as at 105, through the periodic interrupter 103-101, the condenser 106 being interposed in the usual manner, 107 illustrating the secondary winding, and 108 the connection to the slip ring, all as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. In this instance the sli ring shown in Fig. 3 and in section in Fig. 4, comprises a metal ring 110provided with three segmental brush engaging portions 109, distributed at 120 apart about the axis of the ring, and embedded in an insulating body 112 having the shaft aperture 113 and flanges 114 as previously described, the peripheral portions of the slip ring being provided with secondary insulating brush engaging portions 115 between the conducting segments, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. 116-117 represent the brushes which in this instance are conveniently arranged diametrically opposite each other,

so that whenever one of said brushes is in contact with one of the conducting'segments 109, the other brush will engage the center of one of the insulating portions. In this construction six contacts will be made in each revolution of the slip ring, it being understood that the armature and periodic interrupter are so constructed as to produce six sparks at each revolution of the armature. V

118-119 represent the two sections of the distributer, each provided in this instance with eight radially disposed stationary conducting members, distributed at equal distances around the center at intervals of 45, and each connected to one. of the spark plugs, which are herein indicated at 125 and 126. 120 represents the rotary part of the distributer carrying the rotary conducting members 121, 122, insulated from each other and connected respectively by the connections 123 and 124 with the brushes 116 and 117. In this instance as the separation between the stationary conductors of the circular series is represented by 45, one of the rotary conducting members 121 and 122 is ofi-set from the other 22%", and I prefer to locate them at opposite sides of their axis of rotation and to offset them 22% from a diametrically opposite position, making the angle between them on one side 157%", and on the other side 202?,215 will be readily understood.

The operation of the apparatus indicated in Figs. 3 and 4.- will be as before described with reference to the construction indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, except that the slip ring will make its contacts with the brushes 11c and 117 alternatively distributing current interselectively andalternatively from the rotary conducting members 121 and 122 to the sixteen spark plugs of the engine and at all times when current is passing over one of the connections 123 or 124, to one of the rotary conducting members 121 or 122, the brush connected with the other rotary conducting member will be in engagement with one of the insulating segments 115, thus preventing the flow of any current therethrough. As there will be six contacts made at the slip ring in each revolution thereof, the ratio of rotation. between the rotary members of the distributer and the armature shaft will be as follows, to wit, one revolution of the distributer members to two and two thirds revolutions of the magneto armature to furnish ignition to a number of metallic segments on the slip ring or the particular number and arrangement of stationary conducting members in the circular series of stationary conducting members of the distributer, as these may be varied according to the number of cylinders in the engine to be fired and the gear-com shall be maintained between the slip ring and the rotary conducting members of the distributer so that as each brush engages a metallic segment of the slip ring, the rotary distributing member connected therewith shall be in operative relationwith one of its circular series of stationary conducting members, while the other rotary distributing member shall be in a position out of operative relation with any of its circular series of conducting members, and preferably midway between two of the same.

The form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, for example, is the preferred form for a twelve cylinder engine, and the form of my invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is the preferred form for use with a sixteen cylinder engine, but either form can be used with engines having eight cylinders or more.

Where engines having twelve, sixteen, or any other number of cylinders are so constructed as to require irregular firing, the rotary distributing members will'be offset at the proper angle to accommodate the same.

It will be noted that by employing a plurality of segments on the slip ring in connection with the brushes connected independently to the separate rotating distributer members, the said brushes'b'eing located so that only one at a time is in contact with any segment of the slip ring, the speed of the armature of the magneto can be maintained at a very low rate, even when the invention is employed in connection with engines having twelve, sixteen, and more cylinders. v

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a system of'interselective distribution of secondary armature currents, the combination with a distributer, comprising a plurality of circular series of stationary conducting members, a rotary conducting member for each series, said rotary members being insulated from each other, and connected for joint rotation, of a magneto having its armature provided with a pri-' mary winding, and a secondary winding having one terminal thereof permanently grounded, a rotary part operating in timed relation with the magneto armature and said members of the distributer, and provided with a circular brush engaging path, a plurality of separate contacts located in said path and connected to the other ter- 7 minal of the secondary winding, a plurality of brushes, one for each of the rotary members of the distributer, for engaging said circular path and all of said separated con tacts therein, and a connection from each of said brushes, to one of said rotary distributer members, said brushes being so located that only one of the same is at any time in engagement with any of said contacts in said circular path, said magneto being constructed to produce a number of sparks per revolution of the armature thereof equal to the number of said separate contacts in the brush engaging path, multiplied by the number of brushes engaging said path.

2. In a system of interselective distribution of secondary armature currents, the combination with a distributer, comprising a plurality of circular series of stationary conducting members, and a rotary conducting member for each series, said rotary members being insulated from each other and connected for joint rotation, only one of said rotary members at a time being capable of assuming operative relation with any one of said stationary conducting members of the distributer, of a magnetohaving its armature provided with a primary winding and a secondary winding, having one terminal thereof permanently grounded, a slip ring on the armature shaft having a peripheral brush engaging path, a plurality of separated conducting segments located in the said path and in a plane trans verse to the axis of the armature shaft and connected at all times to the other terminal of the secondary winding, a plurality of brushes for engaging all of the slip ring segments, a connection from each brush to one only of the rotary distributer members, said brushes being located around the slip ring so that only one of the same is capable of being in engagement with any segment of the slip ring at a time, said magneto being so constructed as to produce a number of sparks per revolution of the armature, equal to the number of said segments of the slip ring, multiplied by the number of said brushes engaging said slip: ring.

In testimony whereof I afiixmy signature.

VICTOR W. KLIESRATH'. 

